09/03/09

Notes from HPNA Mtg. 09/02/09 held at Cordero School.

Mtg. started at 7:50pm called to order by Olu Howard, HPNA President
Guest speakers: Glen Wrigley, Chief Architect, City of Jersey City
Rick Lev C.P.G., Senior Associate for Melick-Tully and Associates P.C.
Steven Fulop, Ward-E City Councilman, City of Jersey City

Issue:
• In mandate, the construction company must test soil when digging for drainage.
• HP is 6 acre park. 4 test pits were done per acre and testing done late May.
• Entire site has historic fill 1-1/2’ – 5’ deep and is thicker toward W. Hamilton Pl because it was the low end of site.
Top soil is 5”1-10” + silty sand & some brick. Most fill looks like natural fill soil, but may be from construction of
basements of homes.
• 6 grids were tested under the fill layer. It is determined this is NOT a chromium site.
• Petroleum Hydrocarbons and other metals
• State Std: 400parts/million
th
• They did detect a slightly elevated arsenic, Benz[a]anthracene & Benzo[a]pyrene level on 9 street side samplings.
(Benz[a]anthracene & Benzo[a]pyrene result from incomplete combustion and are found in ash, tar, etc)
• Lead (Pb) highest level was 2560/ppm which is about a quarter of DEP’s max level. All was below topsoil.
• 25-26pm Arsenic (Ar) found in 0-6” of topsoil. State standard is 19pm
• Park was established 1870 and enlarged at turn of the century, closing off Pavonia. 1970’s was another renovation
• Oldest map found in JC Room at the Library was 1880. There is a 1930 map in DEP’s website.
• Pb & Ar do not break down or leach down and is stable in location.
• Hydrocarbons & ash mixed with cinder and so they don’t know if it was from barbecues.
• DEP: it is not uncommon from air pollution (burning of coal or fossil fuels) most of this is in upper 7” of soil. It was
also not uncommon to use steamed cinders (an after-product of generators) as base

Solutions:
Soil Capping
• Filter fabric (sample passed around) would be laid over the contaminated fill, then a layer of gravel, and then 6” of
clean tested topsoil plus sod over that. Over 50% of arsenic affected area will be covered by hard surfaces anyway
for the playground and basketball court. The lead area SW of Gazebo is already has topsoil cover.

Total Remediation
• 2’-4’ of soil would have to be removed. Piping & electric conduits would have to be removed. Roots of about 16-18
trees in area would be exposed and trees would probably have to be removed.
• City would require biannual (every 2 years) inspection to make sure the cap is not disturbed nor filter fabric cut (for
example for tree planting)
• There was concern about dogs digging up area, but there will be a strong turf cover. Trees would be pruned to allow
more sunlight through.
• Cap can be repaired.
• Capping would add estimated $75K-$85K to cost & can be covered by contingency fund in budget.
• Total Remediation would cost about $500K-$750K
• Currently Green construction is running about 2 weeks ahead of schedule, so capping would not delay progress
significantly.

Survey of meeting attendees: all except one were in favor of capping.

Announcements:
JC Theatre’s new production “Passion” starts 09/23/09. There will be 4 equity contractors (actors) as well as local residents
in the cast. Adults only.